Question:

How can I best play against a defender in the low post?

Patience

A Great Big Man catches the ball and waits a split second to survey the court, to see how the individual and team defense will react to the low post pass. One thing I teach Big Men is after receiving the pass, to throw a fake pass out to the teammate who just passed you the ball. This usually prevents any sagging guards from reaching in and taking your precious rock, also giving you that split second you need to survey and then attack. This split-second rule let´s a Big Man: 1) read if a double team is coming, 2) who is collapsing, and 3) who might be left open should the double occur. It also helps in keeping good court vision so you can spot an open teammate caused by a rotating defense.

Use the Glass

A Great Big Man can use the backboard when scoring to reduce the effectiveness of a great shot blocker. Shooting "off the glass" also creates higher percentage shots by increasing your room for error in close quarters.

Be Active

Great post player stay active to force their defender to respect and defend each position on the court as a possible scoring threat position following each pass whether they are at the strong side low post, weak side, or high post.

Be a Leader

A Great Big Man is a leader by example in practice, in conditioning, and all aspects of training. They do not walk through the motions some days, and attempt to bring their "A" game to the top level with inconsistent practice methods and intensity. The greatest post players are nasty to play against every single day. No one wants to get in the trenches with this player. It´s almost futile to stop the power, intensity, and determination of a great post player.

Free Throws

Great Big Men can make their free throws because they know they will be fouled and most likely to go to the foul line over the course of a season more than any other player or position. Post players who can make 80% of their foul shots are less likely to be strategically fouled in the post, and more likely to be more honestly defended to keep them off the foul line. This makes them more difficult to defend in the normal 1 on 1 low post confrontation.

Recognize Scoring Opportunities

A Great Big Man is neither a "black hole" nor a "automatic toss-back machine" when the entry pass is made. They recognize scoring opportunities but also see when a pass-out is necessary, either because of a double team, or to get better post position for himself. Trust in your teammates. Shaq is a great example of this. Watch how many times he passes out, just to get deeper position, usually receiving the ball right back for an easy post score.

Keep Working

A Great Big Man does not belly-ache about not getting the ball down low. They work so hard and efficiently that it is totally obvious to their teammates they are open and can score. If one "moment of opportunity" is missed they don´t sulk and quit playing, they remain hungry and continue to work for the "next moment of opportunity" when it comes.

Position in the Low Post

When you are on offense in the low post you need to make the defense play you on just one side. The offense wants to keep contact with the defense and once he has established his defensive position, pin him there and make him stay where he is. Be big and wide and always give a "target hand" so your teammate knows where to pass the ball.

“wide” target

Keep the knees bent - make yourself a “wide” target. DO NOT stand up straight. We want the lower body low - the feet wider than the shoulders. The post player should show his numbers to the passer and hold his hand out to give an aggressive target. Show the passer where you want the ball and if the passer is any good, he will get it to you there.

Be a Good Passer

Great post players can pass off the dribble. By this I mean once they have put the ball on the floor during a post move, they have the skills to immediately pick up the ball, center it and pass it back out to an open perimeter player, teammate cutting freely toward the basket, or with ease back to the person who entered the post pass. I have coached against some excellent post players who could score, but once the ball was on the floor, it was Johnny in a barrel over Niagara Falls with no chance of a return pass. These skilled post players are relatively easy to defend. Just force the dribble, trap the dribble and look for the loose ball.

Be Durable

Great post players "take a licking and keep on ticking" (to borrow the age old commercial phrase from Timex watches). They have great upper and lower body strength and can take hits and punishment without losing the ball. Able to maintain possession in traffic, take a foul, and complete the play.

Develop an outside shot

Great post players can step outside and knock down the 15-18 foot jumper with ease. The best can even step behind the 3 point line and make defenses pay that try to double team a low post teammate with a second post defender.

Chairmen of the Boards

Great Big Men are extremely active on the offensive backboards. They are relentless, with the scent of a bloodhound for the loose offensive rebound, and an insatiable desire to get points from loose ball situations at the offensive end of the court.(see Rebounding the Basketball section)

Seal Defenders

A Great Big Man knows how to use their back side to position and seal off defenders from getting good defensive position. Not only that but they are intelligent enough and skilled enough to bait even the best defenders into fighting for a seemingly desired position, only to gain a better offensive position and chance of scoring from a more effective angle or position near the basket.

"Hide" behind defenders

A Great Big Man knows how to hide behind defender's eyes, make them turn their heads, and get the defender "flat" footed to create quick flash post chances in very high percentage scoring areas. Their activity is purposeful and not wasted. Staying active does not mean just constantly moving with high energy for no purpose. It means playing an active chess game with their individual, and against an inspired team defense to find those "moments of opportunity".

Finish Strong

Great post players can finish in traffic with at least two different go-to moves against virtually any type of defender. Tall or small, big or quick, this player simply has automated their scoring skills to the point they "know" they can score when given the ball at a "moment of opportunity".

Heads Up

Great post players keep their heads up and have great court vision even as they begin to initiate a post move. Many teams will send a second defender to double team late (such as when the post player puts the ball on the floor with the dribble). A head up will produce an alert pass and score by an open teammate instead of a forced shot against a collapsing or double teaming defense.

Chin the ball in the Post

Great post players keep the ball tucked under their chin, keeping the ball in a position of strength. The only time the ball comes down is a low-explosive-power dribble into an open space behind a defender, or down between the post players own legs where it is the most difficult to have a ball pocked out by a pesky defender. The time the ball is low and exposed is very limited in great post players. The same technique is used after grabbing a defensive rebound. Chin the ball until you find a good passing lane to one of your guards.

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